Kate Bravermans short story Tall Tales From the Mekong Delta

Once an Addict . . . A sudden feeling of ecstasy; all of your senses are changed, transformed, falsely seeming to be true. Everything is really wonderful, powerful, creativity flows freely from your mind. You feel indestructible, confident, and prideful. The sun is jolly and as you inhale the air seems to suck through you effortlessly. Everything is blue, no, not blue with melancholy, this blue is the blue that knows you and where you live and its never going to forget (107). The blue is the faà §ade and excitement an addict gets from drugs. Addicts look for an escape, a better life, and something more gratifying, instantly. In Kate Bravermans short story Tall Tales From the Mekong Delta, she describes one womans struggle with†¦show more content†¦You want to see whats on the other side. Ill show you. Ill take you there. Itll be the ride of your life (91). The more persistent he is and the more he is always around, the more she is gradually attracted to him, and in turn the drugs that she has tried to quit. She seems almost hypnotized, his face seemed younger and tanner than she had remembered and the sun was strong. The world was washed with white. The day seemed somehow clarified and yet she was letting Lenny lead the way (93). When she first comes across Lenny he fell into step with her possibly a few steps behind, familiar, but something she was trying to leave behind her (89). As time passes, her urge to do drugs grows stronger and stronger through the manipulation of Lenny and her weak self control. ‘I was expecting you, Lenny said. I told you. You cant get away from me (96). He pampers her with lavish stories and promises beyond his reach. It is all a temptation. He even tricks her into smoking again, she knew she wanted to, but hadnt made the commitment to try smoking again until, She closed her eyes. She opened her mouth. There was something pressing against her lip. Perhaps it was a flower. It was a cigarette. Her hand began to tremble (99). Eventually there is a charm to Lenny, ‘you look beautiful, a charm that she tries to escape from, but like a bee is attracted to honey, she is drawn back, ‘I have to go, she said softly, over her shoulder, afraid to look him inShow MoreRelatedTales From The Mekong Delta Essay1127 Words   |  5 Pagesmind-sets are changed. Creativity flows freely from your mind to the hand to the pen and to the paper. This blue is the blue that knows you and where you live and its never going to forget(107). The blue is the fix and excitement an addict gets from drugs. Addicts look for an escape. They feel that if they just have that hit they will enjoy life and its experiences to a fuller extent. In Kate Bravermans short story Tall Tales From the Mekong Delta, she describes one womans struggle with drugs

Genetically The Human Genome Manipulation Essay - 1237 Words

Genetically Modifying the Human Genome Genetically engineering the human genome, also known as the complete set of genetic material, is now more than just science fiction, after 25 years of collecting and analyzing scientific research, altering the human genome is becoming a concrete reality (Yu-Wai-Man 1323). Genetically modifying the human genome is deliberately altering human genes for the purpose of producing offspring with those genetic changes. Understanding the history of genome engineering, knowing the procedures, and being aware of the ethical issues of this aggressive approach to curing human genetic diseases are the main aspects to grasping the whole knowledge of germline engineering on human embryos and gametes. Human genome manipulation began in the 1980’s when discoveries of pronuclear microinjection exploded. According to Kevin Smith, in 1980 Jon Gordon, author of The Science and Ethics of Engineering the Human Germ Line, demonstrated that exogenous DNA, also known DNA that originates outside of the organism of study, could be introduced into the germline simply by the physical injection of a solution of cloned DNA into a zygote, also known as the diploid cell from the fusion of an ovum and a sperm cell (Smith 77). After this landmark discovery from Jon Gordon, pronuclear microinjection, was the most widely accepted method of germline manipulation although it was outstandingly expensive (Smith 79). The procedure of pronuclear microinjection consisted ofShow MoreRelatedGenetically Modified Organisms And Reproductive Cloning1648 Words   |  7 Pagesselect for traits that would be more desirable. This type of genetic modification has proven to be quite successful and has been used f or many generations. Presently scientists are genetically modifying organisms in order to produce more desirable traits. Genetically modified organisms (GMO), are organisms that have a genome that has been engineered in a laboratory in order to produce desired biological products or to express a desired physiological trait (Diaz 2014). Scientists are able to accomplishRead MoreEssay about Genetic Manipulation or Genetic Engineering952 Words   |  4 PagesGenetic manipulation, also referred to as ‘genetic engineering’ or ‘genetic modification’, is the change of an organism’s gene through the use of modern biotechnology techniques. There are various forms of genetic manipulation, including transgenic organisms, cloning, and gene therapy etc. Transgenic organisms, also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), are organisms that possess a foreign gene in its genome. This is achieved through recombinant DNA technology, which involves either theRe ad More Are Genetically Modified Foods the Way to Go? Essay1538 Words   |  7 Pagesconsuming genetically modified and processed foods every day. Genetically modified and process foods cover roughly 60 to 70% of our food supply. Supermarket processed food items now test positive for the presence of genetically modified ingredients. The hidden menu of these unlabeled genetically modified foods and food ingredients in the US now includes soybeans, soy oil, corn, potatoes, squash, canola oil, cotton seed oil, papaya, tomatoes, and dairy products. But genetic manipulation is somethingRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmo )1271 Words   |  6 Pagesbiotechnology, in which modern techniques directly manipulate genomes allowingthe transfer of specific trait genes from one organism to be inserted into another organism changing its genes. In doing so, an organism with the transferred gene may express the traits that it would not have naturally. These Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or Transgenic Organisms are typically created for the benefits of humansserving in medical use where genetically modified bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E.Coli) canRead MoreBenefits Of Genetically Modified Babies1502 Words   |  7 Pagesto people’s fear of Genetically Modified Babies, which is â€Å"a biologically radical technique referred to by terms including ‘mitochondrial replacement,’ and ‘nuclear genome transfer,’ [these techniques] would produce modifications in every cell of any resulting children† (Cussin and Darnovsky 16). This procedure takes the fetus’s cells and allows the doctors to manipulate the cells in any matter they want; then, the cells are placed in the women’s egg. Unfortunately, Genetically Modified Babies areRead MoreThe Stigma Against Genetically Modified Foods Kill People1180 Words   |  5 PagesThe stigma against genetically modified foods kill people. How, you think? How does simply an idea cause the death of thousands of people? First of all, genetic modification is the direct manipulation of an organism s genome by changing the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. Genetically modified organisms are food crops that have been created through application of transgenic, gene-splicing techniquesRead MoreWhat Is Gm Foods And The Process Of Producing Gm Food Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesGM foods. Furthermore, a section will be dedicated to explaining the duties of the government agencies that regulate the GM foods. Finally, I will make an inferred conclusion as to the safety and fitness of GM foods for human consumption. The definition of GM foods Genetically engineered foods have had foreign genes (genes from other plants or animals) inserted into their genetic codes. Genetic engineering can be done with plants, animals or bacteria, and other microorganisms. The aim of theRead MoreEssay on The Perils of Genetic Screening and Gene Therapy1079 Words   |  5 PagesThe Perils of Genetic Screening and Gene Therapy      Ã‚   When we contemplate manipulation of the human genome, we tend to frame the debate in terms of the potential consequences for our children, or our childrens children. These are the individuals whose lives, and whose genes, are most likely to be effected by the rapidly advancing field of human genetics. Thus, while generations have always been conscious about the external environment bequeathed to their children, we of this generation mayRead MoreThe Invention Of Designer Babies1257 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Throughout the world, the potential to genetically modify embryos has created controversy whether this procedure if ‘morally correct.’ ‘Designer babies’ have been created by screening embryos for genetic diseases. However, ‘Designer babies’ has also been used to contain selected desired qualities such as eye colour, hair colour and skin complexion. The question remains, â€Å"where is the line drawn for ‘designer babies?’† In Vitro Fertilisation â€Å"In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a procedureRead MoreDn Dna And Dna1128 Words   |  5 Pagesallow for manipulation. Screening is then done using cultures such as E.coli bacterial lawns. The cDNA is then tested to ascertain that it achieves the required objective. (A cDNA library comprises of sequences complementary to the mRNA.) Question 2 Genomics is a discipline of genetics that deals with sequencing and analysis of an organism’s genome. Genomics is achieved by applying recombinant DNA, gene sequencing methods and bioinformatics to analyze the structure and functions of a genome (the complete

The Vampire Diaries The Fury Chapter Seven Free Essays

â€Å"To cooperate at what?† Meredith asked. â€Å"I’ll explain about that later. But first I want to know what’s been going on in town since I-left. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Seven or any similar topic only for you Order Now † â€Å"Well, hysteria mostly,† Meredith said, raising an eyebrow. â€Å"Your Aunt Judith’s been pretty badly off. She hallucinated that she saw you-only it wasn’t a hallucination, was it? And she and Robert have sort of broken up.† â€Å"I know,† Elena said grimly. â€Å"Go on.† â€Å"Everybody at school is upset. I wanted to talk to Stefan, especially when I began to suspect you weren’t really dead, but he hasn’t been at school. Matt has been, but there’s something wrong with him. He looks like a zombie, and he won’t talk to anyone. I wanted to explain to him that there was a chance you might not be gone forever; I thought that would cheer him up. But he wouldn’t listen. He was acting totally out of character, and at one point I thought he was going to hit me. He wouldn’t listen to a word.† â€Å"Oh, God-Matt.† Something terrible was stirring at the bottom of Elena’s mind, some memory too disturbing to be let loose. She couldn’t cope with anything more just now, she couldn’t, she thought, and slam dunked the memory back down. Meredith was going on. â€Å"It’s clear, though, that some other people are suspicious about your ‘death.’ That’s why I said what I did in the memorial service; I was afraid if I said the real day and place that Alaric Saltzman would end up ambushing you outside the house. He’s been asking all sorts of questions, and it’s a good thing Bonnie didn’t know anything she could blab.† â€Å"That isn’t fair,† Bonnie protested. â€Å"Alaric’s just interested, that’s all, and he wants to help us through the trauma, like before. He’s an Aquarius-â€Å" â€Å"He’s a spy,† said Elena, â€Å"and maybe more than that. But we’ll talk about that later. What about Tyler Smallwood? I didn’t see him at the service.† Meredith looked nonplussed. â€Å"You mean you don’t know?† â€Å"I don’t know anything; I’ve been asleep for four days in an attic.† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Meredith paused uneasily. â€Å"Tyler just got back from the hospital. Same with Dick Carter and those four tough guys they had along with them on Founders’ Day. They were attacked in the Quonset hut that evening and they lost a lot of blood.† â€Å"Oh.† The mystery of why Stefan’s Powers had been so much stronger that night was explained. And why they’d been getting weaker ever since. He probably hadn’t eaten since then. â€Å"Meredith, is Stefan a suspect?† â€Å"Well, Tyler’s father tried to make him one, but the police couldn’t make the times work out. They know approximately when Tyler was attacked because he was supposed to meet Mr. Smallwood, and he didn’t show up. And Bonnie and I can alibi Stefan for that time because we’d just left him by the river with your body. So he couldn’t have gotten back to the Quonset hut to attack Tyler-at least no normal human could. And so far the police aren’t thinking about anything supernatural.† supposed to meet Mr. Smallwood, and he didn’t show up. And Bonnie and I can alibi Stefan for that time because we’d just left him by the river with your body. So he couldn’t have gotten back to the Quonset hut to attack Tyler-at least no normal human could. And so far the police aren’t thinking about anything supernatural.† â€Å"Tyler and those guys can’t identify the attacker because they can’t remember a thing about that afternoon,† Meredith added. â€Å"Neither can Caroline.† â€Å"Caroline was in there?† â€Å"Yes, but she wasn’t bitten. Just in shock. In spite of everything she’s done, I almost feel sorry for her.† Meredith shrugged and added, â€Å"She looks pretty pathetic these days.† â€Å"And I don’t think anyone will ever suspect Stefan after what happened with those dogs at church today,† Bonnie put in. â€Å"My dad says that a big dog could have broken the window in the Quonset hut, and the wounds in Tyler’s throat looked sort of like animal wounds. I think a lot of people believe it was a dog or a pack of dogs that did it.† â€Å"It’s a convenient explanation,† Meredith said dryly. â€Å"It means they don’t have to think any more about it.† â€Å"But that’s ridiculous,† said Elena. â€Å"Normal dogs don’t behave that way. Aren’t people wondering about why their dogs would suddenly go mad and turn on them?† â€Å"Lots of people are just getting rid of them. Oh, and I heard someone talk about mandatory rabies testing,† Meredith said. â€Å"But it’s not just rabies, is it, Elena?† â€Å"No, I don’t think so. And neither do Stefan or Damon. And that’s what I came over to talk to you about.† Elena explained, as clearly as she could, what she had been thinking about the Other Power in Fell’s Church. She told about the force that had chased her off the bridge and about the feeling she’d had with the dogs and about everything she and Stefan and Damon had discussed. She finished with, â€Å"And Bonnie said it herself in church today: ‘Something evil.’ I think that’s what’s here in Fell’s Church, something nobody knows about, something completely evil. I don’t suppose you know what you meant by that, Bonnie.† But Bonnie’s mind was running on another track. â€Å"So Damon didn’t necessarily do all those awful things you said he did,† she said shrewdly. â€Å"Like killing Yangtze and hurting Vickie and murdering Mr. Tanner, and all. I told you nobody that gorgeous could be a psycho killer.† â€Å"I think,† said Meredith with a glance at Elena, â€Å"that you had better forget about Damon as a love interest.† â€Å"Yes,† said Elena emphatically. â€Å"He did kill Mr. Tanner, Bonnie. And it stands to reason he did the other attacks, too; I’ll ask him about that. And I’m having enough trouble dealing with him myself. You don’t want to mess with him, Bonnie, believe me.† â€Å"I’m supposed to leave Damon alone; I’m supposed to leave Alaric alone†¦ Are there any guys I’m not supposed to leave alone? And meanwhile Elena gets them all. It’s not fair.† â€Å"I don’t know. Something tremendously strong-but it could be shielding itself so that we can’t sense it. It could look like an ordinary person. And that’s why I came for your help, because it could be anybody in Fell’s Church. It’s like what Bonnie said during the service today: ‘Nobody is what they seem.’ â€Å" Bonnie looked forlorn. â€Å"I don’t remember saying that.† â€Å"You said it, all right. ‘Nobody is what they seem,’ † Elena quoted again weightily. â€Å"Nobody.† She glanced at Meredith, but the dark eyes under the elegantly arched eyebrows were calm and distant. â€Å"Well, that would seem to make everybody a suspect,† Meredith said in her most unruffled voice. â€Å"Right?† â€Å"Right,† said Elena. â€Å"But we’d better get a note pad and pencil and make a list of the most important ones. Damon and Stefan have already agreed to help investigate, and if you’ll help, too, we’ll stand an even better chance of finding it.† She was hitting her stride with this; she’d always been good at organizing things, from schemes to get boys to fundraising events. This was just a more serious version of the old plan A and plan B. Meredith gave the pencil and paper to Bonnie, who looked at it. and then at Meredith, and then at Elena. â€Å"Fine,† she said, â€Å"but who goes on the list?† â€Å"Well, anyone we have reason to suspect of being the Other Power. Anyone who might have done the things we know it did: seal Stefan in the well, chase me, set those dogs on people. Anyone we’ve noticed behaving oddly.† â€Å"Matt,† said Bonnie, writing busily. â€Å"And Vickie. And Robert.† â€Å"Bonnie!† exclaimed Elena and Meredith simultaneously. Bonnie looked up. â€Å"Well, Matt has been acting oddly, and so has Vickie, for months now. And Robert was hanging around outside the church before the service, but he never came in-â€Å" â€Å"Oh, Bonnie, honestly,† Meredith said. â€Å"Vickie’s a victim, not a suspect. And if Matt’s an evil Power, I’m the hunchback of Notre Dame. And as for Robert-â€Å" â€Å"Fine, I’ve crossed it all out,† said Bonnie coldly. â€Å"Now let’s hear your ideas.† â€Å"No, wait,† Elena said. â€Å"Bonnie, wait a moment.† She was thinking about something, something that had been nagging at her for quite a while, ever since- â€Å"Ever since the church,† she said aloud, remembering it. â€Å"Do you know, I saw Robert outside the church, too, when I was hidden in the choir loft. It was just before the dogs attacked, and he was sort of backing away like he knew what was going to happen.† â€Å"Oh, but Elena-â€Å" Soberly, after a moment’s hesitation, Bonnie did. â€Å"Who else?† she said. â€Å"Well, Alaric, I’m afraid,† Elena said. â€Å"I’m sorry, Bonnie, but he’s practically number one.† She told what she had overheard that morning between Alaric and the principal. â€Å"He isn’t a normal history teacher; they called him here for some reason. He knows I’m a vampire, and he’s looking for me. And today, while the dogs were attacking, he was standing there on the sidelines making some kind of weird gestures. He’s definitely not what he seems, and the only question is: what is he? Are you listening, Meredith?† â€Å"Yes. You know, I think you should put Mrs. Flowers on that list. Remember the way she stood at the window of the boarding-house when we were bringing Stefan back from the well? But she wouldn’t come downstairs to open the door for us? That’s odd behavior.† Elena nodded. â€Å"Yes, and how she kept hanging up on me when I called him. And she certainly keeps to herself in that old house. She may just be a dotty old lady, but put her down anyway, Bonnie.† She ran a hand through her hair, lifting it off the back of her neck. She was hot. Or-not hot exactly, but uncomfortable in some way that was similar to being overheated. She felt parched. â€Å"All right, we’ll go by the boardinghouse tomorrow before school,† Meredith said. â€Å"Meanwhile, what else can we be doing? Let’s have a look at that list, Bonnie.† Bonnie held the list out so they could see it, and Elena and Meredith leaned forward and read: Matt Honeycutt Vickie Bennett Robert Maxwell-What was he doing at the church when the dogs attacked? And what was going on that night with Elena’s aunt? Alaric Saltzman-Why does he ask so many questions? What was he called to Fell’s Church to do? Mrs. Flowers-Why does she act so strange? Why didn’t she let us in the night Stefan was wounded? â€Å"Good,† Elena said. â€Å"I guess we could also find out whose dogs were at the church today. And you can watch Alaric at school tomorrow.† â€Å"I’ll watch Alaric,† Bonnie said firmly. â€Å"And I’ll get him cleared of suspicion; you see if I don’t.† â€Å"Fine, you do that. You can be assigned to him. And Meredith can investigate Mrs. Flowers, and I can take Robert. And as for Stefan and Damon-well, they can be assigned to everyone, because they can use their Powers to probe people’s minds. Besides, that list is by no means complete. I’m going to ask them to scout around town searching for any signs of Power, or anything else weird going on. They’re more likely than I am to recognize it.† â€Å"Fine, you do that. You can be assigned to him. And Meredith can investigate Mrs. Flowers, and I can take Robert. And as for Stefan and Damon-well, they can be assigned to everyone, because they can use their Powers to probe people’s minds. Besides, that list is by no means complete. I’m going to ask them to scout around town searching for any signs of Power, or anything else weird going on. They’re more likely than I am to recognize it.† â€Å"Elena. Elena!† Startled, Elena looked up, to see Meredith’s wary dark eyes and Bonnie’s alarmed expression. It was only then that she realized she was crouched close to Bonnie’s wrist, rubbing the biggest vein with her finger. â€Å"Sorry,† she murmured, sitting back. But she could feel the extra length and sharpness of her canine teeth. It was something like wearing braces; she could clearly feel the difference in weight. She realized her reassuring smile at Bonnie was not having the desired effect. Bonnie was looking scared, which was silly. Bonnie ought to know that Elena would never hurt her. And Elena wasn’t very hungry tonight; Elena had always been a light eater. She could get all she needed from this tiny vein here in the wrist†¦ Elena jumped to her feet and spun toward the window, leaning against the casing, feeling the cool night air blowing on her skin. She felt dizzy, and she couldn’t seem to get her breath. What had she been doing? She turned around to see Bonnie huddled close to Meredith, both of them looking sick with fear. She hated having them look at her that way. â€Å"I’m sorry,† she said. â€Å"I didn’t mean to, Bonnie. Look, I’m not coming any closer. I should have eaten before I came here. Damon said I’d get hungry later.† Bonnie swallowed, looking even sicker. â€Å"Eaten?† â€Å"Yes, of course,† Elena said tartly. Her veins were burning; that was what this feeling was. Stefan had described it before, but she’d never really understood; she’d never realized what he was going through when the need for blood was on him. It was terrible, irresistible. â€Å"What do you think I eat these days, air?† she added defiantly. â€Å"I’m a hunter now, and I’d better go out hunting.† Bonnie and Meredith were trying to cope; she could tell they were, but she could also see the revulsion in their eyes. She concentrated on using her new senses, in opening herself to the night and searching for Stefan’s or Damon’s presence. It was difficult, because neither of them was projecting with his mind as he had been the night they’d been fighting in the woods, but she thought she could sense a glimmer of Power out there in the town. When the bulb was finally screwed back in, it revealed Damon sitting casually but precariously on the sill of the open window, one knee up. He was smiling one of his wildest smiles. â€Å"Do you mind?† he said. â€Å"This is uncomfortable.† Elena glanced back at Bonnie and Meredith, who were braced against the closet, looking horrified and hypnotized at once. She herself shook her head, exasperated. â€Å"And I thought I liked to make a dramatic entrance,† she said. â€Å"Very funny, Damon. Now let’s go.† â€Å"With two such beautiful friends of yours right here?† Damon smiled again at Bonnie and Meredith. â€Å"Besides, I only just got here. Won’t somebody be polite and ask me in?† Bonnie’s brown eyes, fixed helplessly on his face, softened a bit. Her lips, which had been parted in horror, parted further. Elena recognized the signs of imminent meltdown. â€Å"No, they won’t,† she said. She put herself directly between Damon and the other girls. â€Å"Nobody here is for you, Damon-not now, not ever.† Seeing the flare of challenge in his eyes, she added archly, â€Å"And anyway, I’m leaving. I don’t know about you, but I’m going hunting.† She was reassured to sense Stefan’s presence nearby, on the roof probably, and to hear his instant amendment: We’re going hunting, Damon. You can sit there all night if you want. Damon gave in with good grace, shooting one last amused glance toward Bonnie before disappearing from the window. Bonnie and Meredith both started forward in alarm as he did, obviously concerned that he had just fallen to his death. â€Å"He’s fine,† said Elena, shaking her head again. â€Å"And don’t worry, I won’t let him come back. I’ll meet you at the same time tomorrow. Good-bye.† â€Å"But-Elena-† Meredith stopped. â€Å"I mean, I was going to ask you if you wanted to change your clothes.† Elena regarded herself. The nineteenth-century heirloom dress was tattered and bedraggled, the thin white muslin shredded in some places. But there was no time to change it; she had to feed now. â€Å"It’ll have to wait,† she said. â€Å"See you tomorrow.† And she boosted herself out of the window the way Damon had. The last she saw of them, Meredith and Bonnie were staring after her dazedly. â€Å"Your cloak,† she said, pleased. For a moment they smiled at each other, remembering the first time he had given her the cloak, after he’d saved her from Tyler in the graveyard and taken her back to his room to clean up. He’d been afraid to touch her then. But, Elena thought, smiling up into his eyes, she had taken care of that fear rather quickly. â€Å"I thought we were hunting,† Damon said. Elena turned the smile on him, without unlinking her hand from Stefan’s. â€Å"We are,† she said. â€Å"Where should we go?† â€Å"Any house on this street,† Damon suggested. â€Å"The woods,† Stefan said. â€Å"The woods,† Elena decided. â€Å"We don’t touch humans, and we don’t kill. Isn’t that how it goes, Stefan?† He returned the pressure of her fingers. â€Å"That’s how it goes,† he said quietly. Damon’s lip curled fastidiously. â€Å"And just what are we looking for in the woods, or don’t I want to know? Muskrat? Skunk? Termites?† His eyes moved to Elena and his voice dropped. â€Å"Come with me, and I’ll show you some real hunting.† â€Å"We can go through the graveyard,† Elena said, ignoring him. â€Å"White-tailed deer feed all night in the open areas,† Stefan told her, â€Å"but we’ll have to be careful stalking them; they can hear almost as well as we can.† Another time, then, Damon’s voice said in Elena’s mind. How to cite The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Seven, Essay examples

Gates Essay Example For Students

Gates Essay Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and served as its Chief Executive Officer form the time the original partnership was incorporated in 1981 until January 2000. Then he resigned as Chief Executive Officer and took on the position of Chief Software Architect. Mr. Gates has served as Chairman of the Board since the company’s incorporation. Bill Gates is recognized as the youngest self-made billionaire in history. His windows operating system, runs the vast majority of personal computers throughout the United States. It is obvious that it takes a certain type of person to successfully create and maintain such a profitable organization. However, when closely examined, Gates’ leadership characteristics are somewhat surprising. The way in which he directs his corporation is unique, and yet, still extremely prosperous. For a man to dropout of a prestigious university such as Harvard in chase of his dream, one must be devout in his pursuit. Gates has always believed in his goal and has never stopped striving for perfection. This sort of aim for fulfillment has a tendency to rub-off on others closely tied to Gates. In fact, others have cited this charismatic leadership as a major key to Microsoft’s success. Microsoft’s success depends on dedicated workers who have enormous faith in a charismatic leader, claims Scott Winkler, an analyst at Gartner Group: ‘Bill tells them to do something and they do it. They believe in him. He’s never let them down in the past. The corporate culture is that Bill’s always right.’ Gates recognizes the need to have others, as well as he, focus on the group’s vision and he realizes that it is the leader’s responsibility to inspire his subordinates by leading by example. Charismatic leaders understand that they alone cannot make the vision a reality; they need their followers’ help and support to create organizational or societal cha nges. Gates definitely sought the support and wisdom of others when in the process of building the company. He worked hands on with his fellow employees, identifying and correcting problems with software and continually setting and reaching long-term goals. The primary influence process is personal identification, which is influence derived from a follower’s desire to please and imitate the leader. Charismatic leaders appear so extraordinary, due to their strategic insight, strong convictions, self-confidence, unconventional behavior and dynamic energy, that the subordinates idolize these leaders and want to become like them. Perhaps the most extreme example of this is within the Microsoft camp were the so-called Bill Clones, extremely brilliant, young, and recent college graduates, who were hired as managers. So strong was the admiration of Gates that these young men began to emulate their leader in almost every way. Jeff Raikes soon had the patented Gates mannerisms down pa t. Raikes was quickly named Clone Number One in Microsoft circles. A Stanford MBA, Raikes had migrated from Cupertino, where he had headed up the software effort on the ill-fated Apple III and had gained a reputation as a firefighter for taking on tough software assignments. Gates uses extraordinary discretion when hiring applicants to work for Microsoft. He wants to ensure that every single person shares the same prospectus for the corporation, yet in their own way, have personal beliefs that they are willing to stubbornly stick to. His aim is not to create clones within the organization, but to stockpile it with as much imaginative genius has possible. It is only a credit to his charismatic qualities that such extremely bright people wish to emulate Gates in every way. Bill Gates is moody, and he is the first to admit it. Gates’ temperament can sometimes cause him to be an inefficient leader, especially when it affects his listening. One of Gates administrative assistants, Estelle Mathers, had this to say about the CEO’s personality. Bill is moody. He told somebody once that one of the things he loved so much about me was that I knew when to leave him alone. If you tended to interrupt him at a bad time, you could get hurt. However, it is also important to note that Gates expected the same sort of tenacity from his colleagues. Mathers goes on to add, He liked it when you stood up to him. I remember banging my fist on the desk one day, and he banged back, and I banged back. If you backed down from Bill, he wouldn’t have respect for you. Despite his domineering characteristics, Gates understands the importance of avoiding an overly aggressive attitude but maintaining assertiveness in leadership. An assertive leader is able to stand for their own rights, or their group’s rights in a way that also recognizes the concurrent right of others to do the same. Gates is notably opinionated, and upon occasion has been noted to be remarkably stubborn. Yet, Gates continues to recognize the quality of minds that he has assembled at Microsoft and the ideas that originate from his staff. Gates has learned to hear out his subordinates no matter how different their personal notions may be. For example, when Rowland Hanson , vice president of corporate communications, suggested spending $50,000 on an awareness and attitude study, a heated debate between Gates and himself ensued. Gates and Hanson battled back and forth. Then at one of their Monday-morning strategy meetings with Microsoft’s other top executives the bickering came to a head. ‘We’re not going to do it,’ Gates shouted. Hanson pressed on. ‘I need to proceed with this research,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to get it done in time, and I have ad schedules to make. A lot of this is going to be used.’ Right then in front of everybody, Gates reversed his position. ‘You’re right,’ Gates said. ‘Let’s do it.’ ‘That’s why Gates’ was so successful,’ Hanson would later reflect. ‘His ability to turn on a dime, and to listen to the smart people he surrounded himself with.’ Another fine example of affective listening an d encouragement of suggestions from all persons involved in the company was Gates’ fondness of feedback. The following is a memo released to all employees in 1994. If you have a problem you don’t think is getting resolved, well, you are not only allowed to, you are encouraged to talk to your manager’s manager, your manager’s manager’s, manager, or whatever it takes to get that opinion heard. You are encouraged to use electronic mail if it is too intimidating or threatening to go see your manager. And there should be no retaliation of any kind associated with the act. Bill Gates is dependable, and this trait has been the cornerstone of his personality. Even his critics must admit that you can count on Gates to pursue his beliefs with a bulldog-like mentality. He is a high achiever and continually practices what he preaches. Gates’ management style as been described as Darwinian, survival of the fittest. Gates defines his style in this way. Wh en I was preparing to take my company public, I arranged to distribute an unusually large share of ownership to employees. It was a way of letting them know how much their performance mattered. The flip side of rewarding performance is making sure that employees who don’t contribute are carefully managed or reassigned. Employees need to see that their peers are really strong and that if someone isn’t carrying his or her weight, an adjustment will be made. Of course, Gates expects, and in some cases demands hard work and dedication. Gates is himself a tireless worker, and at times he finds it hard to rationalize why anyone else would want to devout any considerable amount of time to anything else but work. This has been one of the primary points of criticism of Gates’ leadership. The term Microsoft Syndrome is one Gates does not like to mention, but it has been floating around the company now for several years. The Microsoft Syndrome is a process that begins to s urface in employees around their second or third year with the company. They begin to believe that the company is using them and although it is not official policy, many people support the concept that Microsoft is looking to push people to work very hard. It cannot be argued that Microsoft is the most successful computer company ever to come about. Bill Gates has done a remarkable job in leading the corporation from its meager beginnings in 1977, in which the company consisted of three employees, to the premium status that it enjoys today. The journey has not been without its share of obstacles, and no matter how far Gates has pursued, they are still many roadblocks in his future. Gates has demonstrated however, the ability to foresee potential pitfalls before they occur and his leadership style has worked favorable to this point. There is no doubt Bill Gates is an extremely intelligent, wealthy and powerful man. 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